LI BRIEFS

MASTIC/Homeless man accused of impersonating police officer

A homeless man was arrested on charges of impersonating a police officer Friday on Montauk Highway in Mastic, Suffolk police said yesterday.

At about 11:25 p.m. on that highway near Titmus Drive, Derek Diskin, 41, approached a vehicle with detectives inside and began to "act in a threatening manner," police said.

When the detectives identified themselves as officers, police said, Diskin also identified himself as an officer and displayed a gold badge. Diskin then refused several commands by the detectives and later resisted arrest as the detectives tried to take him into custody, according to police.

Diskin was charged with second-degree criminal impersonation, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon - a billy club.

- YAMICHE ALCINDOR

JERICHO/Cops: Floral Park man dies after SUV rear-ends truck

An 18-year-old Floral Park man died Friday after the vehicle he was driving rear-ended a tractor trailer in Jericho, police said.

Akash James was driving a 2002 Toyota Highlander east on South Service Road at about 9:15 p.m. when the vehicle went into the back of a 2003 Volvo tractor trailer stopped for a red light at the intersection of North Broadway and South Service Road, according to Nassau County police.

The driver of the tractor trailer, which is registered to the U.S. Postal Service, was not injured. James was pronounced dead at the scene.

The eastbound lanes of the Long Island Expressway were closed at Exit 41 South for several hours because of the accident.

Police said yesterday that there was no apparent criminality involved in the crash and that the investigation was ongoing.

- YAMICHE ALCINDOR